Larval development of Maja crispata Risso 1827 (Crustacea,Decapoda, Majidae) reared in the laboratory

The morphology of the zoea and megalop of Maja crispata are described from laboratory-reared material, and compared with other two spider crabs belonging to the subfamily Majinae, Maja squinado and Maja goltziana, recorded in the same region of the eastern Atlantic. The diagnostic characters allowing the separation of these species' larvae are tabulated and discussed.